Apparatus for filling inverted bottles



A ril 3, 1951 J. STALLER APPARATUS FOR FILLING INVERTED BOTTLES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1948 April 3, 1951 J. STALLER 2,547,606

APPARATUS FOR FILLING I NVERTED BOTTLES Filed June 2, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 fix 24 n Fig.2. 1%

o o 6 f 23 I 22 J fig. 3; 32

INVENTOR.

AN STALLER Patented Apr. 3, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FILLING IN VERTED BOTTLESJan Staller, Brno, Czechoslovakia Application June 2 1948, Serial No.30,707

In Czechoslovakia June 4, 1947 It has already been proposed to fillbottles in the position with the mouth downwards by the.

steady rising of the liquid level without any detrimental splashing, theair content of the bottle escaping through a pipe pushed in up to thevicinity of the. bottom of the bottle. The invention relates to animprovement of this method and of the device used for the purpose withthe employment of a protective gas of higher specific gravity than air,which protects the liquid against undesired oxidation. The use of such aprotective gas, for instance carbon dioxide, is already known per se. Ithas hitherto been carried out in such a manner that the empty bottle wasfirst of all brought under the gas supply pipeand that then, after ithad filled with the protective gas, it was moved under the liquidsupply. pipe. The liquid flowing into the bottle displaced theprotective gas filling which escaped into the atmosphere.

The method referred to above has considerable disadvantages. The bottlehad to .be twice placed on the filling machine, first to be filled withprotective gas and then to be filled with liquid, which naturally takesmore time than filling without the use of protective gas and renders themanipulation more complicated and costly. There are also considerablelosses of protective gas, as some of it will already escape, while it isflowing into the bottle, out of the open mouth of the bottle and somewill be displaced into the surrounding air as the liquid enters.

The invention relates to a method and a device, which overcomes thesedisadvantages.

The invention consists substantially in this, that the bottle is filledfirst with protective gas and immediately thereupon with liquid, thebottle being placed only once on. a filling head containing the gas andliquid supply pipe and the protective gas displaced by the inflowingliquid being conveyed back under the action of its higher specificgravity to the filling device for renewed use, whilst the specificallylighter air escapes into the atmosphere.

The invention shall now be more particularly described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a constructional example of thefilling device in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the "same machine in assembled operative form.

Fig. 3 is a detailed elevation of the machine of Fig. 2 as seen from theleft in the latter.

9 Claims. (Cl. 226-27) which is divided off from the chamber 16 by a'Fig. 4 is a section as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 as seen from the lefttherein.

Fig. 5 is a section as taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2 as seen from theleft.

The bottle known internal ball closure 2 is placed in the invertedposition with its mouth on the sealing ring 4 of the filling head it bythe holders. The filling chamber 9 of the head 5 is connected by meansof the pipe line 7 and the valve 8 to the reservoir 6 of the fillingliquid. In the head5 a pipe ID with lateral apertures in the vicinity ofits upper end is guided in a gas-tight manner and in the verticaldirection. U-shaped manner and its second, longer limb l2 lying outsidethe bottle and opening at 29 is provided with a piston [3 which isguided in a fluid-tight manner in the cylinder M. This cylinder has itsupper end communicating with the chamber It and isprovided at thebottomwith a regulable supply pipe ['5 for compressed air. Above the chamberair can be introduced, isa further chamber ll partition It and hasatthetop anoutlet valve 2i which is controlled by. the float 25 in dependenceon the liquid level in the reservoir 6, into which latter the liquid isintroduced at 26. The as space 25 of the reservoir 6 isin permanentcommunication with the gas chamber it by means of a branch 23 and thechambers l6, ll are in permanent communication with one another throughopenings I9, 26 in the partition I 8. In the whole system. a suitablepressure is maintained, this pressure being as a rule about twoatmospheres, when filling beer into bottles. At the lowest point of thepipe l0, l2 an outfiow valve 2'! is provided, which canbe opened byrocking the lever 28, as soon as the pipe Ii), [2 has reached its lowestposition.

The machine as further shown in Figs. 2 to 5 includes a group of curvedsegmental. cams 31, 38 and 39 and a pedal or trip lever 43 mounted onshaft 42 which is rotatably mounted on machine supports 30, with aspring 44 biasing the cams toward initial idle position. 'The first cam31 engages with a springoperated valve 33, and cam 38 with another valve34 of valve casing 35 by which compressed air at a higher pressure thanthat of the protective gas is brought to chamber 16 through passage 36..From valve 33 an air pressure passage 33 leads to cylinder 31-, of whichthe piston carries holder orstop- 3-,

provided, for instance, with the 5 and is pressed against.

This pipe it is bent in a It, into which at 22 the protective gas ofhigher specific gravity than 3 while valve 34 is connected to the lowerend of cylinder I4 by way of passage I5.

Valve casing 35 is so arranged that in the lowest position of valves 33and 34, passage of compressed air to cylinders I4 and 3| is closed offand their erstwhile air-filled chambers open communication with theoutside air. In the operative position of valves 33, 34 on the otherhand, the passage of compressed air through passage 36 to the chambersis open. Cam 39 initially engages with a valve stem 45 which closesvalve 8 in the lowest position of the cam but in the operative positionopens this valve 8. At the side thereof the cam 39 has a projection 48which cooperates with valve stem 4| which engages operating lever 28.Cams 31, 38 and 39 have similar operative portions which-upon loweringof pedal 43 cause successive operation of valves 33, 34 and 8 as well asof lever 28 as will also be explained in the'following.

In idle condition, pedal 43 occupies its highest position while valves33 and 34 as well as valve stem 45 are in their lowest positions, valvestem 4I, meanwhile,, engaging upon the side of cam 39 upon the highestportion of projection 40. Cylinder -3I is free from internal pressurewith the U-shaped pipe. I8; I2 in its lowest position, while the spacebelow the piston I3 in cylinder I4 (Fig. 1) is free from pressure whenthe gas pressure in chamber I5 has driven piston I3 and U-shaped pipeIII, I2 down to its lowest position. The outletvalve 21, which islocated immediately above lever 28is still closed and the same is trueof'valve 8; the parts being then in position to receive an emptycontainer or bottle for filling the same. I

Thus, if such a container or bottle I is mounted in inverted position onfilling head 5 and trip lever or'pedal ,43'slowly depressed, projection40 of cam 39 shifts link4l briefly to the left (Fig. 2), with the resultthat lever 28 momentarily opens outlet valve "21 which thereafterquickly closes again. Upon again depressing pedal 43, cam 31 will openvalve ;33' so that compressed air promptly flows from passage 36 throughvalve casing 35 and'through pipe 32 into cylinder 3I, whereby the holderor stop 3 is shifted downwardly andbottle- I is pressed heavily down onfilling head 5;

Upon further depressing pedal 43, cam 38 opens valve 34-and compressedair flows from passage 36 through valve casing 35 and pipe I5 connectedto the lower end of cylinder I4 and enters the latter, overcoming thegas pressure therein acting on piston I3 from above. The result is that"piston I3 is raised with 'U-shaped pipe I8, I 2 to'their highestposition as shown in Fig. 2. Already at "the beginning of this raisingoperation, gas from chamber I 6 enters the upper open end 29"ofthe'U-shjaped pipe and enters the bottle through opening II in said pipe bypassing upwardly through limb I therein to substantial equilibriumwiththat in chamber I6.

Upon then again depressing pedal 43, cam 39 opens liquid supply valve 8,and liquid flows from reservoir '5 past valve 8 through filling headupwardly into bottle I, displacing the air and gas through the U- hapedpipe from the bottle, and when the latter is filled, the operation isterminated. When the pedal 43 is thereafter released, the camssuccessively return to their initial positions.

The first cam 39 closes liquid supply valve 8, then cam 38 freescylinder from pressure, so that the U -shaped pipe slidesdown to itslowest position and its limb II] with consequent closure of port oropening II (Fig. 1) terminates the flow of gas from the bottle. Then cam31 raises holder 33 so that the filled bottle can be removed. Finally,cam 39 once again momentarily opens outlet valve 21 by means of sideprojection 40, whereby the apparatus is again in initial operativecondition to receive and fill another container or bottle.

The device operates as follows:

Before the inverted empty bottle I is placed on the sealing ring 4 .ofthe filling head 5 the pipe I8 is drawn down into its lowest position,in which its lateral apertures II are closed in a fluid-tight manner bythe guiding part of the head 5, so that the compressed protective gasfrom the chamber I6, in which in this position the outlet 29 of the limbI2 is situated, cannot escape out of the pipe IS. The liquid valve 8 isclosed. The empty bottle I is then placed in position and pressed downby the holder 3. The pipe I0 is pushed up through the bottle neck tillit nearly reaches the bottom of the bottle. Immediately after thecommencement of this motion the compressed gas starts to flow throughthe uncovered apertures II out of the chamber I6 into the bottle I and,as it is heavier than air, to collect in its lower part, that is in thevicinity of the neck. The relatively lighter air contained in the bottlerises to the bottom of the bottle. Immediately an equalisation ofpressure will take place, that is to say, the pressure in the bottle Iwill become just as great as that in the spaces 9, IT, IS, 24. The valve3 is then opened.

The liquid from the reservoir 6 flows according to the law ofcommunicating vessels through the pipe I and the filling chamber 9 frombelow into the inverted bottle and forces its gaseous content throughthe pipe IO, I2 into the chamber I'I, into which the limb I2, when inthe raised position, opens with its end 29. At first air will escape outof the bottle I, which as the lighter medium collects in the upper partof the chamber I1, and only then the heavier protective gas whichcollects under the layer of air and penetrates through the openings I9,20 of the parti tion I8 into the spaces I6, 23 and 24. The level of theliquid in the bottle I rises, as indicated in the figure, quietly andwithout splashing. As soon as it reaches the apertures I I, the liquidwill enter the pipe I0 and fiow from there into the limb I2, in whichthe level assumes the same height as in the reservoir 6, when thetransfer of the liquid will automatically cease and the filling of thebottle will be complete. The valve 8 is closed and the pipe I0 pusheddown into the lowest position, so that its apertures Ii become covered,whereupon the holder 3 is loosened and the bottle I removed. Through thedrop in the external pressure of the internal ball 2 will set itselffirmly on its seating, the bottle being thus closed.

The gaseous content of the chambers I1, I6 and 24 is layered in such amanner that the air displaced out of the bottle I during the inflow ofthe liquid fills only the uppermost part of the chamber I'I, whereas thespaces I6, 24 are permanently filled only wi.h the heavy protective gas.The spaces I6, I1 and 24 might, of course, be united. Their separationfrom one another by partitions with relatively small communicatingopenings I9, 20, 23 has the advantage, however, that the eddying andmixing of the gas with air during the operalion is reduced and the quietlayering is assisted.

When during the filling operation the level in the reservoir 6 sinks,the float 25 will open the valve 2 I, causing the air contained in theuppermost part of the chamber I! to escape into the atmosphere. This, ofcourse, also results in the pressure in the space 24 of the reservoir 6dropping, so that through the supply pipe 26 fresh liquid can flow infrom a reservoir (not shown), in which a constant pressure is maintainedby means of a known kind. The maintenance of a constant liquid level inthe reservoir 6 is thus ensured.

In order to ensure thatthe quality of the liquid filled into the bottlesshall be entirel satisfactory, care must be taken to prevent anyresidual liquid entering the bottle, which in the intervals betweenfilling the individual bottles has come in contact with the airy Forthis reason such residues must be carefully removed. In theconstructional form illus.-rated this object is served by two devices.The first of these consists in a special dimensioning of the pipes I0, I2. These pipes are so dimensioned that the volume of their walls in thatpart which, when the bottle is full and the pipe Ill is in its highestposition, is immersed in the liquid is greater than the liquid contentof the pipes Ii), E2 in the same position. If this condition isfulfilled, then, with the valve 8 closed, by drawing down the pipe l9into the lowest posi.ion a space will become free in the bottle I, whichis greater than the volume of the liquid contained in the limbs l0, I2and this liquid will therefore be with certainty sucked into theinterior of the bottle, so that the pipe l0, l2 will be free of liquidbefore the fresh bottle is placed in position. The second device, bywhich the very last residues of liquid adhering to the walls of thepipes I (l, I 2 are to be removed, consists in the use of a blow-outvalve 2?. In the intervals between the removal of the full bottle andthe placing in position of a fresh, empty bottle, the pipe l0, l2 beingin-the lowest position, the valve 2? is opened by the lever 28 for abrief period and the compressed gas from the chamber l6 blows the lasttraces of adhering liquid out of the pipes I2, I 9.

Through using the pressure of the protective gas for the motion of thepiston 93 in one direction as described, a simplification of theservomotor and its control results.

Manifestly, variaions may be resorted to and parts and features may bemodified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling bottles and containers with liquid in invertedposition, comprising: a reservoir for the liquid, a filling head adaptedto be put into communication with the liquid reservoir, a U-shaped pipeone limb of which is slidable in the filling head up to a position inwhich the free end of that limb passes through the neck of an invertedbottle or container placed on the filling head and extends to thevicinity of the bottom of the bottle, the volume of the walls of thatpart of the U-shaped slidable pipe which is immersed in liquid when thepipe is in its highest position and the bottle is full being greaterthan the volume of liquid filling the entire pipe in the same operativestate, an air chamber into which the open end of' the-outer limb of theU-shaped pipe reacheswhen this pipe is in its uppermost position, anoutlet valve on the air chamber, means for controlling the said outletvalve in dependence upon the surface level of liquid in the liquidreservoir, and a gas chamber located below the air chamber but at ahigher level than the liquid surface level in the liquid reservoir, thefree end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe opening into the gaschamber when the U-shaped pipe is in its lowest position, and the gaschamber being in open communication both with the. air chamber and withthe gas space above the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

2. Apparatus for filling bottles and containers with liquid in invertedposition, comprising: a

I reservoir for the liquid, a filling head adapted pipe is in its lowestposition, and

to be put into communication with the said liquid reservoir, a U-shapedpipe one limb of which is slidable in the filling head up to a positionin which the free end of that limb passes through the neck of aninverted bottle or container placed on the filling head and extends tothe vicinity of the bottom of the bottle, a blow-off valve at the lowestpart of the U-shaped slidable pipe, a member adapted to open theblow-01f valve for brief periods when the pipe is in its lowestposition, an air chamber into which the open end of the outer limb ofthe U-shaped pipe reaches when this pipe is in its uppermost position,an outlet valve on the air chamber, means for controlling the outletvalve in dependence upon the surface level of liquid in the liquidreservoir, and a gas chamber located below the air chamber but at ahigher level than the liquid surface level in the liquid reservoir, thefree end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe opening into the saidgas chamber when the U-shaped the gas chamber being in opencommunication both with the air chamber and with the gas space above thesurface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

3. Apparatus for filling bottles and containers with liquid in invertedposition, comprisingi a reservoir for the liquid, a fillin head adaptedto be put into communication with the said liquid reservoir, a U-shapedpipe one limb of which is slidable in the filling head up to a positionin which the free end of that limb passes through the neck of aninverted bottle or container placed on the filling head and extends tothe vicinity of the bottom of the bottle, an air chamber into which theopen end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe reaches when this pipeis in its uppermost position, an outlet valve on the air chamber, meansfor controlling the outlet valve in dependence upon the surface level ofliquid in the liquid reservoir, a gas chamber located below the airchamber but at a higher level than the liquid surface level in theliquid reservoir, a cylinder connected to the under side of the gaschamber, the outer limb of the U-shaped slidable pipe extending throughthe cylinder and its free end opening into the said gas chamber when theU lowest position, a piston fixed on the outside limb of the U-shapedslidable pipe and slidably reciprocable in said cylinder for sliding thelatter -shaped pipe is in its pipe, and adjustable means for admittingto the cylinder, below the piston a supply of fiuid at a pressure higherthan that of the protective gas in the gas chamber, the gas chamberbeing in open communication both with the air chamber and with the gasspace above the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

4. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles .,with liquid ininverted position, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardlydirected you for the filling'head; valve controlled means for bringingthe latter into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; avertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movablyconnected to the filling head and slidable therethrough upwardly throughthe neck of the container or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of thelatter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber forprotective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid insaid reservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and havingan outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means insaid liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the sameupon lowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normallymaintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predeterminedheight, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admittingthe other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereofextends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe butin lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber;means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamberand air chamber and said liquid reservoir; and means for raising andlowering said U-shaped pipe.

5. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in invertedposition, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directedfilling head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter intocommunication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movableU-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the fillinghead and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of thecontainer or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in theuppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gasdisposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in saidreservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and havin anoutlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in saidliquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same uponlowering oi the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normallymaintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predeterminedheight, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admittingthe other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereofextends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe butin lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber;means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamberand air chamber and said liquid reservoir; and means for raising andlowering said U-shaped pipe, the volume of the walls of the movableU-shaped pipe immersed in the liquid in the uppermost position of 'saidpipe and the filled condition of the bottle being greater than thevolume of the liquid in the entire pipe in said uppermost position ofthe latter and the filled condition of said bottle.

6. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in invertedposition, including a reserliquid; an upwardly directed filling head;valve controlled means for bringing the latter into communication withthe liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe havingone limb thereof movably connected to the filling head and slidable'therethrough up- --wardly through the neck of the container or bottleto the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position ofthe pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainlyabove the level of the liquid in said reservoir;

chamber and having an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading toatmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valvefor opening the same upon lowering of the level of the liquid in saidreservoir taining the valve closed air chamber each having an openingadmitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper openend thereof extends into said air chamber in the uppermost position ofsaid pipe but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into saidgas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between saidgas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir; means for raisingand lowering said U- shaped pipe; an outlet valve disposed in the lowerintermediate portion of said U-shaped pipe; and operative means for atleast momentarily opening the latter outlet valve when said U-shapedpipe is brought down to is lowest position.

7. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in invertedposition, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directedfilling head; valve controlled means for bringing the later intocommunication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movableU-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the fillinghead and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of thecontainer or bott e to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in theuppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gasdisposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in saidreservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and having anoutlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in saidliquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same uponlowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normallymaintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predeterminedheight, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admittingthe other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereofextends into saidv air chamber in the uppermost position of said pi ,ebut in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber;means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamberand air chamber and said liquid reservoir; means for raising andlowering said U-shaped pipe; an outlet valve disposed in the lowerintermediate portion of said U-shaped pipe; and operative means for atleast momentarily opening the latter outlet valve when said U- shapedpipe is brought down to its lowest position, the volume of the walls ofthe movable U-shaped pi e immersed in the liquid in the uppermostposition of said pipe and the filled condition of the bottle beinggreater than the volume of the liquid in the entire pipe in saiduppermost position of the latter and the filled condition of saidbottle.

8. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in invertedposition, including ,a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directedfiling head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter intocommunication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movableU-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to an airchamber mounted above the gas but normally mainwhen the liquid level isv at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and 9 the filling head andslidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of the container orbottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermostposition of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at leastmainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir; an air chambermounted above the gas chamber and having an outlet valve in one portionthereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connectedto the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering of the level ofthe liquid in said reservoir but normally main taining the valve closedwhen the liquid level is at a predetermined height, the gas chamber andair chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of saidU-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into said airchamber in the uppermost position of said pipe but in lowered positionof this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providingpermanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamberand said liquid reservoir; a substantially vertical cylinder connectedto the gas chamber in permanent communication at the upper end thereofwith the interior of said gas chamber in such position that the otherlimb of the U-shaped pipe extends movably upward through said cylinder;and a piston fixed on said other limb of said U-shaped pipe and slidablyreciprocable in said vertical cylinder to raise and lower said U-shapedpipe; and the other or lower end of said cylinder having a connection toa pressure fluid supply at a higher pressure than that of the gas insaid gas chamber.

9. An apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid ininverted position, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardlydirected filling head; valve controlled means for bringing the latterinto communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a verticallymovable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to thefilling head and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of thecontainer or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in theuppermost position of the pipe; a gas apricot 10 chamber for protectivegas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in saidreservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and having anoutlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in saidliquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same uponlowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normallymaintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predeterminedheight, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admittingthe other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereofextends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe butin lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber;means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamberand air chamber and said liquid reservoir a depending vertical cylinderrigidly secured at the upper end thereof to the lower portion of saidgas chamber in permanent open communication therewith, the other limb ofthe U-shaped pipe extending upwardly through the cylinder at all times;and a piston fixed on an intermediate portion of said other limb of saidU-shaped pipe and slidably reciprocable in said depending cylinder toraise and lower said U-shaped pipe; andthe other or lower end of saidcylinder having a connection to a pressure fluid supply at a higherpressure than that of the gas in said gas chamber.

JAN STALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

